Re: AIS Awards

In a message dated 96-09-20 23:11:19 EDT, you write:

>I am looking for thoughts both for and against the current AIS awards 
>rules.

This is a timely subject, since our AIS President Dave Niswonger has already
advised Board members that the Awards System will be on the agenda at the
fall Board meeting in Colorado.  

There is a strong sentiment for "fixing" the situation where at present there
is only one tall bearded iris, i.e. the latest Wister Medal winner, on the
Dykes candidate list.
I have two issues I think should also be considered.  One is to put bearded
irises on the same "time" rules as beardless irises, i.e. at present
beardless irises cannot be considered for an HM until the 3d year after
introduction...but bearded irises can be considered for an HM the 2d year
after introduction.  I think 2 years does not give enough time to properly
evaluate in different geographic areas and climates.

A second issue is the number of votes judges may cast in various categories.
 In areas where there are lots of introductions, e.g. tall bearded, standard
dwarf beard, it has come to be next to ridiculous.  We judges should not have
85 votes to cast for TBs for an Honorable Mention award in my opinion! I
think this situation acts to demean the award system.

Another issue, but one I do not feel quite as strong about, is the name of
the HM award.  Honorable Mention sounds like something came in 2d or 3d or
10th, etc. To me it has always had a connotation of something that didn't
quite make it. I would like to propose the name be changed but I don't know
to what.  I have thought something like the GI Award (Good Iris Award) or JC
Award (a revival of the Judges' Choice Award title), or SF Award (Step
Forward Award...maybe this title would make more judges think twice before
casting votes!).  

I do hope those of you who have views on this subject will add your views to
the list...I promise to print them out and take them to the AIS fall Board
meeting.  The current Board of Directors is really, REALLY, interested in
members views and opinions.  Clarence Mahan in Virginia
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